China reluctant to let India into the NSG

2 years ago

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New Delhi: TheNuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is expected to take up India's application for membership at its plenary meeting in South Korean capital Seoul on June 24 after deliberations at a preliminary meeting in Vienna on the same remained inconclusive Friday.

China has maintained its stance that countries like India who have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) should not be made members of the NSG. And, if room is made for India, then the same should be done for Pakistan, which is China's close ally.

It would be like self-imposed death sentence for India to have signed the Nucleur Non-Proliferation treaty. Having shared 7500 km of borders with Pakistan and China, both having nuclear weapons and having fought wars with India, its security was on the line.

However, the west, seemingly the UK, is interested in the China-India rivalry. For one simple reason, the size of China's economy is five times that of India. Despite the promising future of both China and India, Xi inked deals worth 40 billion pounds ($60 billion) during his stay in the UK, while Modi may only sign agreements worth no more than 12 billion pounds. Besides, Modi aspires to more British investment to India while the UK expects massive Chinese investment.

The West is also intent on using India to simmer down the significance of China's meteoric rise. China often likes compare itself to India as a reference to assess its performance and the west often uses this to ignite fires between the two.

Meanwhile China is facilitating its ties with Pakistan for geographical reasons, wanting regional power. Also, China is the biggest aid supplier of Pakistan while fulfilling its interests in Pakistan. On the flip side, Pakistan, being eonomically weak, is fostering its economy through China

During his recent five-nation tour, PM Modi had secured the backing of the US, Switzerland and Mexico for India’s entry into the NSG.

Meanwhile, as far as NSG goes, Modi is hopeful that China will change its position when its application is again taken up at the plenary meeting in Seoul from influence of other countries.